• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2014

Background: Previous studies showed that the characteristics of population and regions were related to the suicide rates. This study purposed to analyze the relationships between regional factors and suicide rates with spatial analysis model. Methods: This is a cross sectional study based on the statistics of 2011 which was extracted from the 229 City Gun Gu administrative districts in Korea. Cause of death statistics on each district was used to produce the age-, sex-adjusted mortality rates resulting from suicide. Regional characteristics were measured by the number of doctors engaged in medical institutions per 1,000 population, divorced people's rate per 1,000 population, number of marriages per 1,000 population, and percent of welfare budget in general accounting. Statistical analysis was performed by using SAS ver. 9.3 and ArcGIS ver. 10.2 was used for geographically weighted regression (GWR). Results: In ordinary least square (OLS) regression, divorced people's rate per 1,000 population had a significant positive relationship with the standardized mortality rate per 100,000 population. Marriages per 1,000 population and the proportion of welfare budget in the general accounting had significant negative relationships with the mortality rates. Meanwhile, GWR provided that the directions of variable, divorced people's rate per 1,000 population, were varied depending on regions. The adjusted $R^2$ was improved from the 0.32 in OLS to the 0.46 in GWR. Conclusion: Results of GWR showed that regional factors had different effects on the suicide rates depending on locations. It suggested that policy interventions for reducing the suicide rate should consider the regional characteristics in obtaining policy objectives.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.131-137
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• 2022

Public interest has been increasing the focus on the management of exposure to pollutants and the related health effects. This study reviewed exposure assessment methodologies and addressed future directions. Exposure can be assessed by direct (exposure monitoring) or indirect approaches (exposure modelling). Exposure modelling is a cost-effective tool to assess exposure among individuals, but direct personal monitoring provides more accurate exposure data. There are several population exposure models: stochastic human exposure and dose simulation (SHEDS), air pollutants exposure (APEX), and air pollution exposure distributions within adult urban population in Europe (EXPOLIS). A South Korean population exposure model is needed since the resolution of ambient concentrations and time-activity patterns are country specific. Population exposure models could be useful to find the association between exposure to pollutants and adverse health effects in epidemiologic studies. With the advancement of sensor technology and the internet of things (IoT), exposure assessment could be applied in a real-time surveillance system. In the future, environmental health services will be useful to protect and promote human health from exposure to pollutants.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.108-126
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• 2008

Summary measures of population health or SMPH is an index which can describe morbidity as well as mortality. Summary measures of population health can be divided into health-adjusted life years which is a life expectancy measure and disability-adjusted life years which represents the gap between the ideal health status and the current health status. This study aims at estimating health-adjusted life expectancy(HALE) which is a measure of health-adjusted life years, by calculating life expectancy adjusted by health status using EQ-5D. The mortality data was obtained from the life table of 2005 which was published by the National Statistical Office and the health status by sex and age was obtained from the EQ-5D scores using the third National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey in 2005. With these mortality and morbidity data, health-adjusted life expectancy was calculated using Sullivan's method. The study results showed that the health-adjusted life expectancy of males and females was 67.49 and 69.61, respectively, while the life expectancy of males and females was 75.14 and 81.89. In other words, Korean males and females lose 7.65 and 12.28, respectively, from the decrease of quality of life due to diseases and/or injuries. These results can further be interpreted that males lose 10.2% of their life expectancy and females 15.0%. This study suggests that it may be possible to monitor population's health-adjusted life expectancy by continuing to include health-related quality of life measures such as EQ-5D in national health surveys like the National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.99-118
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• 2007

There are little program and services that have been developed to address the health and health care needs of vulnerable women. The access for their timely and appropriate health care and health promotion services have been a increasing concern. The purpose of this study was to suggest health promotion program for vulnerable women with collaboration of women's NGOs. At the first part of this study, we reviewed a conceptual framework for identifying vulnerable population, and issues regarding health problems, unmet needs, policies and programs that have been developed to address their need. In second part, we focused on investigating the role, subjects and activities of women's NGOs and their capacity for health promotion program. The last part of this study proposed health promotion programme with integrating above two parts of study. In describing what type of health promotion program available in women's NCOs, eight major programs and services were summarized. 1. Direct health promotion program and collaborating program with other services. 2. Education and training for empowerment of vulnerable women 3. Organizing mutual support system such as self-help group 4. Community supports. Vulnerable women living at home may benefit from linkage to community services as much as women living in facility 5. Organizing collaboration system with program for economic support and job training, social rehabilitation 6. Trainer's training for practitioners in NGOs 7. Technical, informational support from professional groups 8. A national coordinating policies for vulnerable population should be established at the central level. National support for NGOs' health promotion program are needed hi solving unmet needs of vulnerable women.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.256-266
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• 2017

Background: Primary health care (PHC) plays a major role to ensure the basic right and equal distribution of the essential health care services. This study presents comparative analyses of PHC in Korea and Uzbekistan, discusses the existing scenario and the challenges, and provides recommendations. Methods: This study reviewed secondary data from Korea's National Statistical Information Service and the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistic, regulatory legislation, research reports, and policy papers by research and international institutions. We focus on comparing input and outcome health data, PHC structure, and health expenditure. Results: Overall health status of the population in Korea is better than in Uzbekistan; both countries achieved more than 95% immunization coverage. The reforms implemented in both countries provide initial health care service delivery. However, there are several challenges such as the distribution of the staff between urban and rural areas and interest of the graduates on specialization rather than working in PHC system. Conclusion: PHC plays an important role in the provision of medical services to the population, addressing both health and social problems; it is the best tool for achieving universal coverage for basic health needs of the population. The community health practitioners in Korea and nurses in Uzbekistan plays main role in universal coverage through providing essential health care services. Continuous reform of the PHC system should be directed to strengthen the capacity of the PHC staff in health promotion knowledge and activities as well as to encourage population to improve their own health.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.43-55
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• 2011

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe population-based prevention strategies for childhood obesity and to discuss its application in a city in Korea. Methods: Literature review and empirical findings for ongoing programs were performed to develop population-based prevention strategies for childhood obesity with the framework and principles of WHO population-based prevention strategies for childhood obesity. Results: The developed framework had five key strategies (supportive policies, supportive environment, supportive program, strategic development & leadership, and monitoring & evaluation) under hierarchic objectives (long-term, middle-term and short-term) with the vision of healthy growth and development of all children and youth. Each strategy included evidence-based action plans with WHO principles. Conclusions: The developed strategies have advanced the existing strategies for childhood obesity prevention by providing the sustainable and systematic framework and action plans based on ecological approach. Further, the feasibility for operating the strategies needs to be verified.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.275-280
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• 2016

Background: A tobacco-free workplace policy is identified as an effective means to reduce tobacco use and protect people from second-hand smoke; however, the number of tobacco-free policies (TFP) remains very low in workplaces in Malaysia. This study explored the factors affecting support for a tobacco-free policy on two healthcare campuses in Malaysia, prior to the implementation of TFP. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 286 non-smokers from two healthcare training centres and two nearby colleges in Malaysia from January 2015 to April 2015. A standardized questionnaire was administered via staff and student emails. The questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, support for a tobacco-free policy and perceived respiratory and sensory symptoms due to tobacco exposure. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the independent effects of supporting a tobacco-free campus. Results: The percentage of individuals supporting completely tobacco-free facilities was 83.2% (N=238), as opposed to 16.7% (N=48) in support of partially tobacco-free facilities. Compared to the supporters of partially tobacco-free facilities, non-smokers who supported completely tobacco-free health facilities were more likely to be female, have higher education levels, to be very concerned about the effects of other people smoking on their health and to perceive a tobacco-free policy as very important. In addition, they perceived that tobacco smoke bothered them at work by causing headaches and coughs and, in the past 4 weeks, had experienced difficulty breathing. In the multivariate model, after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and other factors, only experiencing coughs and headaches increased the odds of supporting a completely tobacco-free campus, up to 2.5- and 1.9-fold, respectively. Conclusions: Coughs and headaches due to other people smoking at work enhances support for a completely tobacco-free campus among non-smokers.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.31-46
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• 2004

Owing to continuous economic growth, an increased standard of living, and improvements to health care in Korea, the life expectancy of Koreans rose from 69.0years in 1985 to 71.3 years in 1990 It continued to rise throughout the 1990s, and, by2002, had reached 76.5 years for the general population and 80.0 years for Korean females. Similarly, the percentage of the Korean population that is 65 years of age or older Increased from 3.1 In 1970 to 7.1 In 2000, and is expected to reach approximately14.0 in 2019. Thus, according to this estimate, Korea will have evolved from an 'aging society 'to an "aged society" in only 19 years. In the case of other countries, this same transformation has generally taken 2 to 5 times longer. One of the major issues related to Korea's rapid1y aging population relates to the health problems of the elderly According to the 2002 National Health Survey Report,87.6 percent of the elderly were reported to have at least one chronic disease. In other words, almost 9 out of evert 10 elderly persons in Korea were suffering from a chronic illness. This, clearly, places a significant economic burden on Korean society in the form of increased health care costs. This paper examines the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases within Korea's rapidly aging population and offers some possible short- and long-term solutions to cope with the increased burden being placed on Korea's health care system. These Include the basic services at local health centers for the elderly and the national life-long health promotion programs that aim to correct unhealthy behavior, such as smoking, the excessive use of alcohol, and poor eating and exercise habits.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.187-197
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• 2004

Owing to continuous economic growth, an increased standard of living, and improvements to health care in Korea, the life expectancy of Koreans rose from 69.0 years in 1985 to 71.3years in 1990. It continued to rise throughout the 1990s, and, by 2002, had reached 76.5years for the general population and 80.0 years for Korean females. Similarly, the percentage of the Korean population that is 65 years of age or older increased from 3.1 in 1970 to 7.1in 2000, and is expected to reach approximately 14,0 in 2019. Thus, according to this estimate, Korea will have evolved from an "aging society" to an "aged society" in only 19years. In the case of other countries, this same transformation has generally taken 2 to 5times longer. One of the major issues related to Korea's rapidly aging population relates to the health problems of the elderly. According to the 2002 National Health Survey Report, 87,6 percent of the elderly were reported to Have at least one chronic disease. In other words, almost 9out of every 10 elderly persons in Korea were suffering from a chronic illness, This, clearly, places a significant economic burden on Korean society in the form of increased health care Costs. This paper examines the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases within Korea's rapidlv aging population and offers some possible short- and long-term solutions to cope with the increased burden being placed on Korea's health care system. These include the basic services at local health centers for the elderly and the national life-long health promotion programs that aim to correct unhealthy behavior, such as smoking, the excessive use of alcohol, and poor eating and exercise habits.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the trend of overseas school health indicators and to investigate indicators comparable internationally. Methods: Using the key words, school, health, indicators and policy through formal literature and web sites, the resources were used after the completeness of resources such as the presence of author, year published and place, and reproducibility was evaluated. Results: In overseas, the interest of school health indicators has increased gradually since 1960. Quality indicators as well as quantitative indicators are important as the good school health indicators. The overseas school health indicators have been very comprehensive, not only including students, but also including the expanded population such as school personnel, parents, family and community, process and outcomes, policies, social and cultural environment. The trend of school health research is from traditional issue-based to indicatorbased which makes comprehensive interpretation including development of school health service and life satisfaction. Among internationally comparable indicators, Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) and Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) were chiefly for students' health and behavior level, and the School Health Service Survey (SHS) was for school health service personnel and policy. Conclusion: Characteristics of overseas school health indicators were expanded population, and comprehensive and internationally comparable indicators. Therefore, Korea school health indicators need to be comprehensive using expanded population and qualitative indicators, and consider standardized indicators comparable internationally.